AHA HAVE Awards are our way of saying thanks to those who give so much to so many
Are your hospital’s volunteers teaming up with others in your community to help the people you serve become healthier? Are they working to enhance the public’s trust and confidence in your hospital or health system? Are they taking on a major health problem and helping those who suffer regain their normal lives? Are they involved in getting primary or preventative care to people who would otherwise be left behind?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes or if your volunteers have something similar up and running, we’re looking for you. The search is on for nominees for our 35th annual Hospital Awards for Volunteer Excellence (HAVE). We will recognize HAVE Award recipients at the Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals (AHVRP) conference, Sept. 28-Oct. 2, in Chicago.
The winners share a key criteria: volunteer programs that, as a result of creativity, innovation and leadership, help improve people’s quality of life and bolster the hospital’s standing in the community.
Each year, we select HAVE award winners in four categories: community service programs, in-service hospital volunteer programs, fund raising programs and community outreach/collaboration. The awards are our way of saying thanks to the people who give these initiatives their heart and strength.
Through the years, the HAVE awards have created a fund of ideas that hospitals across America can draw on. Dozens of these volunteer efforts have been spotlighted and dozens more have served as role models for successful volunteer programs elsewhere.
To qualify, the program needs to demonstrate a significant contribution to the hospital field, accomplished by unpaid volunteers, and be in effect for at least two years.
Award nominations open Dec. 1. You can nominate your volunteer program or initiative by visiting www.ahvrp.org. For more information, contact Ursula Pawlowski, AHVRP’s governance and operations manager, at upawlowski@aha.org.
Express your appreciation for the men and women who freely give their time to help others. By nominating your volunteers for a HAVE award, you are recognizing the enormous value they bring to your hospital and community, and the pride you have in their efforts.